If the art of healing with plants is fashionable, its practice must be supervised because plants contain active ingredients which exert a direct biological action on the organism. Zoom on the indications and contraindications of phytotherapy to make the best use of the ancestral power of plants.
Summary What is herbal medicine? The History of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicine Phytotherapy: proven efficacy over time Which plants for which ailments? The limits of herbal medicine Physiotherapy 45% of people say they use medicinal plants or herbal medicines with physiotherapy to treat themselves. What is herbal medicine? Herbal medicine is the treatment of plants or plant extracts. Indeed, some medicinal plants contain active ingredients which exert a direct biological action on the organism. Each of them would offer two to three hundred different components . According to herbalists, it is from the interaction between these different substances that therapeutic efficacy is born. The History of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicine The medicinal properties of certain plants have been known since time immemorial: they were the only remedies available to humanity. Widely used since Antiquity, herbal medicines and plant substances have kept a primordial place in medicine for centuries. In the Middle Ages in Europe, herbalists had a leading role in the marketing of plants and herbal medicines and seriously competed with doctors and apothecaries. 2 Then, after numerous conflicts with pharmacists, herbalists were deprived of the right to mix or make herbal teas. Currently, in France, only pharmacists are able to prepare and dispense herbal products. Today, modern phytotherapy is based on a sum of experiences and knowledge whose origins go back several millennia. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHYTOTHERAPY, HOMEOPATHY AND AROMATHERAPY? First of all, here is a little reminder of the nuances between herbal medicine , homeopathy and even aromatherapy because the differences are not obvious for everyone: Phytotherapy is the use of plants in the form of herbal tea, capsule, or tincture to treat preventively and curatively; For its part, homeopathy offers various substances based on plants or minerals, diluted in the form of granules or drops ; As for aromatherapy , it is the medical use of aromatic extracts of plants (essences and essential oils) in atmospheric diffusion, inhalation or by dermal and oral route. Phytotherapy and Physiotherapy: proven efficacy over time "According to the World Health Organization, 80% of the world population is treated with medicinal plants. The effectiveness of herbal medicine is therefore proven by its ancestral use" , explains the herbalist Michel Pierre, author of the book "Secrets plants " . The effects of plants on health are therefore mainly based on findings, but not only. "The laboratories identify certain plant molecules with a very specific active principle . This is the case with periwinkle, for example, which contains pervincamine used in drug treatments", continues Michel Pierre. Which plants for which ailments? General antiseptic, thyme is welcome to treat bronchitis , cough or angina ; The purple flower can also be interesting when the bronchi are congested , because it helps relieve coughs (like the poppy) and promotes sputum; Against venous disorders, Fragon (or small holly) is indicated against the sensation of heavy legs; The fumitory and the artichoke leaves act for good transit, the essential oils to facilitate digestion , the boldo against indigestion, the horsetail and green tea (in capsules or infusions) which facilitate weight loss; Several plants can be used for their anti-inflammatory properties , especially in case of rheumatism (arthritis, arthritis ...): devil's claw, blackcurrant; Roman chamomile, rosemary ; Certain plants are used to fight against pain : the meadowsweet, birch, poplar, willow bark. Phytotherapy can also be useful in case of anxiety : "to calm, relax, rest the body, without making it lose its tone, take one or two cups or two capsules of concentrated extracts per day of angelica root or hawthorn , calming plants ", advises Michel Pierre. As for sleep problems , passionflower and valerian are recommended for their relaxing properties, just like eschscholtzia. CHOOSE HERBAL TEAS! "It is in herbal tea that phytotherapy is most effective. With 100 g of plants, we will make 1 liter of tincture and about 500 capsules. I therefore recommend drinking herbal teas prepared with about 5 g of plants per cup ", continues Michel Pierre. To make your herbal tea, you can place the plants in a cup, pour boiling water and then steep for a few minutes before filtering the water for drinking as it is. The average dose is 2 cups per day , avoiding consumption in the evening at bedtime. But you can also choose simplicity with the capsules of concentrated extracts, which only keep the best of the plant for more efficiency. Without cellulose, they are easier to digest and even offer more security (no pesticides, no bacteria ...). The limits of herbal medicine Stay alert to the quality and quantity of the plants to be used, as there are contraindications. The wort for example should not be consumed during antidepressant treatment, a treatment for heart or in a combination therapy. In addition, pregnant women are generally not advised to take plants (with one or two exceptions), as there are no data available to ensure their safety during this period. In any case, do not hesitate to seek advice from a specialist. As such, the pharmacist and the general practitioner remain the preferred contacts for the French. They are health actors to be privileged in order to ensure the absence of a serious illness or possible interactions with other treatments currently taken by the patient. Phytotherapists, naturopaths , homeopaths and herbalists can also direct you to the plants that suit you best. Finally, know that in case of serious or serious illness, herbal medicine does not replace conventional drug treatment. It can be a complementary treatment.
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